El Paso Mission Celebrates Regional History and Culture

Friar Miguel Briseño at the Cultural Arts Market

Ysleta Mission in El Paso, Texas has been part of local community since the 17^th century. Today served by Friar Miguel Briseño and his fellow Franciscans, the mission serves the spiritual and physical needs of countless without forgetting its long history.

Towards the end of last year, Ysleta Mission celebrated its history and the region’s culture with a Cultural Arts Market. The market gave locals and tourists alike the opportunity to tour the mission, enjoy presentations on the various cultures that have made the Southwest what it is today, and sample different dishes that originated in Mexico and Texas.  Artists and artisans sold a selection of pieces at the market that exhibited Mexican, Native American, and Mestizio traditions.

After it ended, one could say that the Cultural Arts Market helped to reaffirm local identity by reminding by visitors of Ysleta Mission’s rich history.

(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: http://ysletamission.org)